Hey! So here is the first of my story in the works. I hope you like it!
Chapter 1 – Grown Up
I stood stone-like at midnight, suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and come out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "Sit down," I stood up
Ooh... growin' up
- "Grown' Up", Bruce Springsteen
I bent down to unlock my storage unit. Once I heard the click of the lock, I let out a breath I had been holding in.
This is it, I thought. This is the beginning of my adult life.
I stepped into my storage unit, debating what was going to be in the first load. I didn't have much, but we did have a huge truck to transport everything. Besides, I wasn't much help to Jasper; he basically did all the work himself.
Jasper was my life saver. He was the closest thing I had to a brother, and I like to believe he treats me more like a little sister than a cousin. Our moms raised us together our whole lives, or at least till his senior year of high school, leaving me to find my own friends as a freshman. He was my best friend and went to live in Washington while I was still stuck in the Valley of Southern California.
My first day of high school I met Alice; she sat next to me in English, my worst subject and her best. When we compared schedules, we noticed they were the same. Thank God we went to a private magnet school. Alice helped me in English throughout high school and I tutored her in a few sciences. To say we were inseparable was an understatement. She lived four blocks away and across the street from my grandparents. It was like it was meant to be. I like to think we got each through those four years.
When it came to college, Alice and I decided to go together. My parents didn't have much money; I mean, they struggled getting me through a private high school and I'm an only child. College for me was what I could afford, so that meant not going far. Alice said she didn't care if we stayed in the Valley. College flew by faster than I remember; it was just a blink of an eye. Alice double majored in journalism and creative writing. I got a BS in Geology with a minor in environmental studies.
Looking at grad schools I knew this was my chance to get away, like Jasper, and begin my life.
Jasper and I never lost touch when he moved to Washington. He would always email stories of his exciting times in college. He believes he found a happy medium between Washington and California.
No, I mean literally-he was in Oregon. So here I am, a grad student living in Eugene, Oregon, a place I had fallen in love with, close to my cousin, and my best friend.
"Do you want to take the kitchen table, chairs, and that ugly thing you call a couch first?" Jasper asked. He hated the couch that Alice got me; it was her house warming gift to me: a pink leather couch. I honestly think she says it for me just so I don't toss it to the curb. House warming gift? Sometimes I think she thinks I'm retarded, I mean she is my roommate.
"Yeah, that's a good start, hopefully Alice is putting together the TV stand in the living room area, so if we drop this stuff off then maybe she can put everything where it needs to go."
Jasper gave a smile, "Isn't that asking a lot of her? I mean, I bet she can work, but I doubt she could push the couch."
"Watch and learn my friend, just watch and learn."
We loaded up the truck laughing and spent the drive to my apartment catching up. Even though we kept in contact when he moved away, we never got to see each other. His mom is my crazy aunt, and I mean crazy. Of course he knew who Alice was, but this morning he met her for the first time.
It took two more loads to get everything from storage to the apartment Alice and I now shared. I was scared to live with Alice. Yes, we have been inseparable for eight years, but we have never actually lived together. So scary was the only way I knew how to describe it.
We found this apartment in downtown, close to the shopping areas and close to campus. It was perfect: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen, living room, dining area, a balcony and we were allowed to have cats. I was excited to have my own kitchen, well, ok we technically shared it but I still knew I would be doing most of the cooking. Alice was more of a baker, not so much a cook. We both knew it, so it worked.
At about six, I sent Jasper out to get us some pizza and beer. We deserved food and a chance to sit. Alice was finishing arranging the furniture in the living room while I finished putting the dishes in the cupboards. The only thing I had left to do was put sheets on my bed. How the hell Alice got hers done before me was beyond me.
On my way to my room, I stopped and looked around. The furniture wasn't new but it was still nice. It was put together and looked somewhat grownup. I was a grown up.
Jasper threw the door open, "I got two pineapple olive mushroom sausage pizza's and a case of Coors light!"
"I love pizza!" Alice jumped up and ran to the kitchen like a kid, then poked her head around the wall, "Ummm, Bella?"
"Yeah, Al?"
"Where are the plates?"
"Cupboard next to the fridge on the left."
Jasper walked up to me shaking his head, "She's one ball of energy. You really weren't joking. Want the beer in the fridge?"
"Yes, sir. I want my mountains to get cold."
"For girls, you sure do drink manly beer."
Alice appeared and shot him a look I wish I could have caught on camera. "We aren't girls or chicks; we are ladies. And this is light beer. It's got fewer calories. Haven't you seen Sweet Home Alabama?"
"Bella, my favorite cousin, you have the strangest friend." He glanced at Alice before finishing, "and I do think I like her."
"Glad you do Jazz. Now sit down, football will be on."
"I knew I taught you right."
By the time I finally got around to putting sheets on my bed it was midnight. I really wanted to just climb into bed, but I knew I would just wake up in the middle of the night to put these damn things on.
Once I had the white fabric pulled tight with my blue comforter on top, I looked around my room.
I had my desk next to the window. I had my bookcase in the corner. I had the vintage crystal lamp on my bed side table. My black wrought iron bed was made. My mirror was hung on the wall. There was even a neat table in the awkward corner next to the door where I figure it would collect my daily crap.
I left out a deep breath.
Yep, I was a grown up.
I rolled over and stretched, only noticing now how bright the light was coming in through the window. Curtains, I'm going to need curtains.
Sitting up I noticed, I felt a rush, one that I knew too well. Caffeine time. I got up and headed out to the kitchen.
I ran into Alice coming out of the bathroom between our two rooms, "Good morning sunshine. How did you sleep in our apartment?"
"Bella, every time we've had a sleepover and even now, I always forget how much of a morning person you are before you even have coffee."
"I'm putting on a pot of coffee, want some?." She followed me like a dog towards the kitchen as if coffee was a treat. She didn't quite make it and settled for planting herself on the couch, knowing I would bring her a cup of it.
"I sure do. Mr. Coffee is my best friend."
"So, I need curtains. The sun shines right into my window in the morning."
"Maybe if you got some curtains you would sleep longer."
"Right, so curtains. You in?"
"Target?"
"It opened twenty minutes ago and its only fifteen minutes away. Plus, it has a Starbucks inside." I left the living room and headed into the kitchen thinking I might want some food.
I opened the fridge, my mind not know yet if it was was hungry or not. Nothing. Well beer and 2 left over pieces of pizza, but those don't count as food. Shit.
"Alice Brandon, I'm giving you thirty minutes to get dressed and ready. We need food and I need curtains. We are going on our first Eugene adventure."
Leave me some love and let me know what you think!